UM headed to FSU, hopes road performance improves

CORAL GABLES — Making it look easy at home, Miami's averaging 21-point wins at the BankUnited Center since ACC play opened.

The road is more about survival instincts.

Though the No. 3 Hurricanes haven't lost a true road game since November, they haven't had a double-digit margin since the ACC opener at Georgia Tech on Jan. 5. Factor in the rivalry angle and the 7 p.m. Wednesday trip to face FSU in Tallahassee sets up as a real test to the 11-game winning streak.

Small nagging injuries are also starting to creep in as the ACC schedule takes a toll on every league team. Second-leading scorer Kenny Kadji wore a shoulder brace in Monday's workout after coach Jim Larranaga said he "tweaked" it. Fellow starter Trey McKinney Jones has been slowed by a shin injury and Durand Scott practiced with a heating pad on his lower back.

None of the health issues are viewed as too serious, but Miami (19-3, 10-0 ACC) certainly can't overlook the Seminoles (13-10, 5-5 ACC) considering it hasn't won in Tallahassee since 2006.

Larranaga doesn't need a reason to spot weaknesses for a team that hasn't lost since Christmas.

"One of the things is offensive rebounding efficiency," he said. "We're like 280th in the country in that area and with the size of our players, especially our interior guys, that needs to be improved dramatically. You don't always shoot like we do against North Carolina."

Dominant in most statistical categories during the 11-game run, Miami holds just a 112-107 offensive rebounding edge.

Shooting 46 percent from the field compared to the oppositions' 38 percent creates fewer opportunities, but Florida State brings a tall lineup capable of limiting them further. It wasn't a major issue, however, in the 71-47 beating Miami handed FSU on Jan. 27 when the 'Canes had 12 offensive boards to the Seminoles' five.

But, as a whole, Larranaga was also happy with the variety of ways Miami's used in this current winning streak. UM tied a school record with 15 3-pointers in the 26-point win over the Tar Heels on Saturday. A week before that, the Hurricanes did it in the paint at NC State when only three of the 21 attempts from the arc found net.

Five different players have lead the team in scoring in the last five wins. Rion Brown came off the bench against UNC to tie a career high with 22 while Reggie Johnson's 15 relief points powered UM past NC State on Feb. 2.

Florida State gets 13.9 points a game from Michael Snaer, who's carved out a reputation for winning games at the buzzer. He scored just four points at in the 24-point loss in Coral Gables.

"We beat them pretty soundly at home," Miami guard Shane Larkin said. "So they probably want to do the same thing to us when we go down."

The Seminoles are 6-6 at home this year and 2-2 in ACC play. Both home league wins came via Snaer shots at the buzzer as Clemson (60-57) and Maryland (73-71) both fell victims.

"It's a rivalry game," Miami senior center Julian Gamble said. "It's something we take great pride in the UM-FSU rivalry. . . . We know it's going to be another physical game. We want to go up there and take it to them early and try to get some of that crowd energy out."